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Council continues Mayberry Ranch tree memorandum after residents and staff raise liability and notice concerns
Summary
After staff recommended the city assume maintenance of 227 trees in Mayberry Ranch and an arborist identified potential safety and spacing defects, the council continued the memorandum of agreement to allow the HOA to ratify the deal and for further outreach on contentious Canary Island pine removals.
Council continued consideration of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the City of Orange and the Mayberry Ranch Homeowners Association after extended public comment and council discussion.
Public Works presented an arborist assessment saying 127 of 227 trees in the affected right of way did not meet city standards; staff estimated removal costs at about $80,000 and initial corrective trimming for the remaining 100 trees at about $19,000. The draft MOA included HOA offers to reimburse up to $16,000 of trim costs and to contribute $5,000 per year for two years toward replanting; the HOA also offered two‑year indemnification for liability related to trees assumed by the city.
Several speakers representing the HOA and nearby residents said they wanted the issue resolved after years of dispute, offered funds for replanting, and emphasized partnership. Other speakers and some council members asked for more granular, tree‑by‑tree documentation and more time for the HOA general membership to review the MOA; concerns focused particularly on 62 Canary Island pines along Serrano Avenue that staff flagged for removal. City Attorney Winters advised caution because the HOA had not yet completed its full membership ratification; several council members said they did not want to bind the city before the HOA's general session.
Council Member Barrios moved to continue the item until the HOA's full membership ratified the MOA and until staff and the HOA could provide more outreach and targeted analysis of the Canary Island pines. The motion to continue was approved unanimously.
